Women’s rights activist Sandra Fluke made an appearance on Turlington Plaza on Wednesday to encourage students to utilize early voting for next week’s presidential election.
Fluke stopped at UF as part of her “It’s On You” Youth Early Vote Campus Outreach tour.
About 40 students gathered by the potato statue to listen.
“Florida is so critical to this election,” Fluke said in her speech.
She received national attention after a congressional controversy regarding whether insurance should include a contraception mandate. Talk show host Rush Limbaugh then called her a “slut” on air.
On Wednesday, Fluke mentioned that President Barack Obama doubled investment in Pell Grants, gave families with college students a tuition tax credit and fought to keep student loan rates low.
Victoria Joyal, a 21-year-old computer engineering senior and Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood officer, said she was happy Fluke came to rally students.
“I’ve noticed that a lot of people aren’t as enthusiastic about voting as they should be,” Joyal said. “Having a notable person will get people more excited to vote.”
Following the speech, Fluke walked students to an early voting van, which took students to polling places in Alachua County.
Fluke is traveling throughout the state to mobilize young voters, she said. Her next stop is in Wakulla.
“This is like, razor-thin close,” she said, “and youth — college kids — are going to be able to make a difference.”
Contact Kathryn Varn at kvarn@alligator.org.
